Measuring machine



pr 22, 1930- J. BENJAMIN 1,755,172

MEASURING MACHINE Filed Jan. 30, 1928 of Work of irregular shape.

Patented Ap r. 22, 1

Jorr r MI BENJAMIN, 39F BEVERLY, r/iAssncirtsn rs, Assreguon 'ro THE ruRnER-TAN- NING MACHINERY 'oomrenzor roR'r An n, MAINE, e oonror errouor MAINE MEASURING ACHINE- I Aiiiilication filed January s','1 e2s.- Serial No. 250,526.

hides, skins, leather and other similar pieces I lncertainIpriorlconstructions, an enclosed body of l quid has been utilized to totallze the measuring operationsot a plurality of measuring members constructed I; and ar ranged to measure the areas of irregularly shaped'preces'of w'ork such as hides and sklns. In these same constructions also, th'e fluid has been utilizedto operate an indicat ing mechanism whereby the totali'zed result is rendered visibleto the operator. In such P1101" constructions, however, the h Work measuring ineansyinoluding a plurality of members which contact with the Work to measure it, are. constructed and arranged to begin ,work measuring. and totalizing operationsasfsoon as the Work measuring inein bers lire lifted to the upper surface of the piece Work and to eontinue Work measuring "and totalizingfoperations at the same rate until they dropotf the other end of the same piece of Work, irrespectivefof the speed of the feeding movement of the Work even if lnoyeinent of the latter be entirely suspended. lHen'ce, the ai'ea recorded by the-fluid operated indicatingmeans in'suchpri-or art constructions depends upon the length 7, of time that a piece of Work 1s under the measuring members and not upon'the'length of the pathina-de by each measuringinember upon the Work during relt'iye. ,moyenient 'the' measur ng member and the ork; lVithi I such a construction itis 'not'possible to retard some portioiis Y of the, Work Wl1ile perniitting other portions of'the jsamepiece of work toftravel at the required speed'ol the feeding means, for-the rea'sonjthatithe, longer a given portion of the Work remains under c the Work measur ng Inembersthe greater Wll-l be the measurement recorded. It is afafct, hoWever,'-that 1n the measurement ot, certain classes of Work it is not only desirablefbut necessary that certain portions of' each piece of Work shouldbe retarded to permit ac- V curatemeasureinent of other portions of the same piece of Work. For xarriplqa'hid which skin has side-portions or skirts which are longer or fuller than" the central portions along each s'iderof the backbone. when a kid skinisresting" on a fiat surface the middle portions, rest substantially in Contact With the surface but the side portions 01' Shirts, being longer or iulle'r, do notrest everywhere in cont-act with'the level sup porting, surface but-are full of pleatsor folds. It folloWs't-haty when sucha skin is fed to the, measuring elements" infl an area measuring machine, it is .n'ecessery to retard the middle portions while permitting the feeding means to nove the side aortionsor skirts zit-the normal rate of feedingmove ment of the feeding n'eans so that the fiill skirt portions of the skin may be ferztended and properly measured, If the skil were allowed to go through the'ilnechine wuth'o'ut' retardation of the middle portions, With. the

= accurate. -Also,' i'tis' a vdefect-oij.the prior constructions referred to that the fluid is'exposed tO-\-2l p01'21tl()l1,01 to drying andjthickr ening; in the case foils, and to loss'by uiidesired displacement. V I

It is an object ofthis inventionitoimprove upon measuring machines Which utilize an enclosed'body of fluid as a meansffor totalizing the measuring operations of a plurality ofmen'ibers insuch a way as too'bviate defects'and deficiencies of such prior structions.

T these ends, and accordance Qhith an important i eature ofthelinyenti-on, an en a closed body of ii sarrangedjtohe acted on for totalizing he extent of movement of individually mounted measuring members" vel 1elatiyely to the ork and Which 'ni'ay fbefl 'etarded Without falsifying .jthe. record of the measuring operation.

In the illustrated construction, themeasurwhich is operativelyiconnected to one of'a ing members are measuring wheels each or a the body of fluid to cause displacement thereof for the purposes stated. Preferably and as shown, the connection between the meas-.

uring wheel and its associated liquid-dise placing member is a. constant one so that displacement of fluid is directly proportional to the amount and direction of movement of the measuring wheels. Hence if the measuring wheels should even be reversed in their directions of movement, the only result Would be to subtract a corresponding amount of fluid from the total theretofore displaced, so

the line IIII of Fig.1.

bodiment of the invention; and

that no falsification of the record can take place. 'As illustrated, means is provided for returning all of the measuring wheels to inii tial position at thesame time that the fluid displacing members are returned to initial position preliminarily to a measuring operation on a succeeding piece of work. In the illustrated construction, the members for operating upon the body of fluid are pistons which project into the fluid chamber through fluid-tight bearings, so that no fluid may escape or be exposed to the atmosphere. At 7 machine frame, means being provided for adjusting the supporting member and the measuring wheel carried thereby with respectx to the work supporting surface over which the work is fed during the measuring operation. For relatively thin stock the supporting member will be adjusted 'sothat its associated measuring wheel will just clearthe work supporting surface, whereas for thicker stock the supporting member will be adjusted further upwardly, not so high, however, but that the measuring wheel will be sure to engage the stock with pressure sufficient to, insure'its rotation as the stock is passed along over the work support.

These and other and novel combinations of parts Will now .be

7 described in detail and particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 7

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation, partly insection,

of a measuring machine illustrating one em- Fig. 2 is a vertical, transverse section along Inthe illustrated surface 7 area measuring machine there is provided a bed rolllO which serves both as a support for hides, skins,

features of the invention" leather, or other piecesof work during meas urement thereof and also as a feeding means for moving a piece of work along beneath a plurality of Work measuring ,rneinbers consisting of wheels 12 arranged to be rotated by work fed by the roll 10. It will be readily understood that the wheels 12 bypressing the work on the roll 10 co-operate with the roll infeeding theworkr The .bed roll 10 is power driven at a'uniform ratef of speed from a source of power'not shown: It is clear that the wheels 12 are frictionally driven through contact with'the work and that all or any number of them may be retarded by holding back on the work. A work supporting table 14: is provided overwhich a piece of work may be shoved until'its forward edge engages with the bed roll .10 and one or more of the measuringwheels 12.

The measuring wheels 12 are independently supported on individual shafts 16, each wheel 7 12 being fixedly secured to'a shaft 16', each shaft 16 being rotatably carried by a supporting member 18 which has a stem portion 20 slidably mounted inia closely fitting socket 21 in a cross bar 22 fixedly carried by the machine frame. At its upper end the stem 20 carries a rod 23 having at its upper end a nut 2a which is adjustable upon the rod to lift the supporting member 18 or to lower it and thus vary the distance of the measuring wheel 12 from the bed roll 10,,tl1is being necessary to adjust the machine for accurate measure- 7 ment of different thicknesses of work. Be-

tween the stem 20 of the member 18 and an end surface 25 within the socket'2l for the stem 20 is a spring 27 which surrounds the rod 23 and serves to keepv the measuring wheel normally at its lowermostposition, as determined by adjustment of the nut 24., the spring 27 permitting upward yielding movement of the associated wheel, during a measvariations in a piece of work. Each member uring operation in accordance with'thickness 18 is provided with a guideway 30 for slid ably supporting a rack bar 32 in a substantia'lly horizontal position, the rack bar having rack teeth 34: arranged to befconstantly in mesh with a'pinion 36 securely attached to I the shaft 16. Since themeasuring wheel 12 is fixedly secured to its shaft 16, rotation of the measuring wheel'will cause movement 1 of the rack bar 32 along its guideway 30 and the amount of movement of the rack bar 32 is directly proportional to the amount of movement of the measuring wheel, so that the eXtent'of-movement of each measuring wheel in a given direction-over a pieceof-work may be measured by the movementof its associ- V ated rack bar.

For totalizing the movements of the measuring wheels to obtain the surface area of a pieceof work there is provided hydraulic means comprising body of fluid 4:0 in a chamber 42 and a plurality of pistons for act ing :on the fluidin the chamber. Each aisjto'n 441is :slidahlyvconmectedat its outer end 46 to the adjacent end-:ofa raekharlifi .loy

means of a pin-438, is .slidable along a vertical slot 50 inthe Hence, mcvea V It will he readily'understood'thatwas reach Vineasuring wheel 12 i-sprogiressively turned in thebdirec'tion of thearrow by work ated by 'theroll during a measnring operation ion a "131606 :of work, the rack bar. '32 is moved to the left ilius forcing the piston 44L further into the: chamber 422 Where it clis-places an 7 uni-01m: of the-fluid afildirectiy proportional.

V toithre stroke of the rack bar 32 iand t'heramount of .=movement.o the whee'lfin,moving'in'one 04: the pistons and ra'ckbers )As :a matter or" convenience'to operator, two handle meme hers '73 are provided, connected respectively direction over the monk. The '{ll passes through .a tightly iopeningiii one wall ofth'e chamber 4:2{an ge'xterioi'rly"threadedv adjustable member 52 aliei ng "provided for i pressingnponfa :bi t ot pack ing st to eflect sealing iof't'he1opening around the piston ME,

, thereby preventing loss of fluid during reciprocation of the piston. then the machine operating, the pistons are moved varying distances according to theamount of travel of their associatedmeasuring wheels so that each piston acts independently to displace a definite amount of fluidi n -tjhe chamber-42and 1 the displacemei it of fluid caused by all "of the Pistons registers the total movement f l the measuring Wheels e -{this Without loss or m gnifieaei r v For indicating visually to the operator the displacement of fiu'i-d in 'the chamber 4:2 and, therefore, the totalized measurement of the work, there is provided visual indicating means comprising a transparent-tube 60, the bore f-which is of 'i-mi form d-i-ame-terarrd Y communicates directly "with the chamber so that as the fluid lQ' -i ntl e c-h-a-mbeiflis displaced hy the pistoris'it rises in the tr'rhefiO. r'X-n'indica tor member 62 is provided with a scale and located closely adjacent to the ti-ihe '60 so thatthe'fmeasnrement indicated "the scale by the height of the fluid columnfin the tube '60 may he readilyascertainedby reference't'o the scale. Hence, the hydranlicmeans not only'totalizes the-movement oft-he Wheel-s but indicates the total m'easurement obtained by the V wheel's. The indicator member 62, is

adjusted so that the fluid in the tHbe-BO is at zero when all ofth'e pistons 44lare in their;

. initial 'pos'itionsof rest Incrderthat adjustment ofo the fluid vvith reference to the 7 scale maybe readily acco riplished', when that course becomes necessary or desirable, a member "64: is provijdedwhich projects into an extension 66o f the chamber l 2'sothatupon ad I justin gthe member enough ofthefluid may b di placed- :Er -m the chamber 42 to. car lse theflui-d to rise irithe tube {601:0 the zeropoin t f 1 when the machine is at rest. In'the illesrack bars contact when traited construction; the'seale on the indicator member '62 represents a range of-measure merits in square 'feet'and in tractions thereof;

fFor returning the pistons 44 andithe parts connected thereto inicludin g the rack'hars 32 and the measuringwheels 12, to theirinitial o piosizt'ionsiofgrest after a piece of Woidzis measlirredfihereisprovided 5a 7 0' supp orted at h each end otthe machine by pivotedlevers :72, a handle member fifisheing connected to the lever 72 for drawing the bar 70 toward :the 7 ii-ight'in Fig.2 so that it "engages with 'a 'shon'lder 7% upon each rackloar to move all of the 'rack-barsrolthe right,' returning them Ieacli to v the sa-n ieinrt-i-arl position. WVhenthm hassloe'en accomplished, theslide member 70 ismamial ly-moved back to its initial .position where it i notf'obstruct operative movementof any t o-levers at the ends'of the machine, and a l a'i id har 76 is ex ten c'led lietweein the handle,

members at their front ends to extend across the front of the v ii ach i-ne5 thus enabling the operator to operate the bar 70 irrespeo t'ive or his position at the front otthemations of rest.

o In operatiirg themachine illustrated in -the drakWin-gs,, a piece bi work W is shoved over their initial 'posithe table 14 until its forward edge is engaged by the bedroll 1-0 and vone or more of the measuring Wheels 12. The operator then giveshis' attention to smoothing out the 7' Work upon the table 14 While it is being fed in th eg bed-roi'l 10 and the measuring whee-ls 1-2'Whichco 'op-eratetherewithas ieed- 7 'ing means, Each measuring Wheel contin- Has to move in the direction offthe arrovv so long asfi t contacts with the moving work, and its movement is transmitted through the pinion 36 and the-rack bar '32 to its asso dated-piston 4:4. llhv'a'lzrtt'erdis olaces fluid. from the chamber 42 inan amount directly prop0rti-(malily to the amount of movement of the Wheel 12. In certain classes of 'work it is necessary to retardthe middle or backbone portions of-e'ach piece O'f'WOI' k While rheside 'orsl'iirt portions move at the normal rate of speed oft-lie bed roll 10. I In th-us retarding;

- certain oft-helmeasur-ing Wheels no errer'is produced for the'rea'son that thea'ssociatecl pistons L4, which are positively connected to "the'n easuring Wheel-s, move at a cor-respondmg rate and stop When the "me asu r-ing'whee'ls stop. Indeed, if a measu-r ing*wheel should be reversed its-movement at some intermeton wouldalso' he reversed andjwotrld thus snhtraot,- from theamount of fluid gdispl wied. l3

CIT

up to any given instant, an amount offluid corresponding to the reverse movement of the measuring wheel beginning at that instant. The amount of movement of all of the pistons 44 is totalized through the displacement of the fluid in the chamber 42 and this displacement is indicated through the measurement ofthe column of fluid in the transparent tube 60 by the aidof the indicator scale 62. It will be understood that the arrangement of the scale and the units thereof will be arrived at through tests of the machine by testisheets of known. areal Having described my invention, what claim as new and desire to secureby'Letters Patent is: I

' 1. In a measuring machine, a support for a piece of Work, a plurality of independently movable measuring members for engaging a piece of work on the support,.each measuring member being continuously moved through frictional contact with the Work to measure a length dimension of the work during relative movement' of the member and the piece of work, an enclosed body of fluid, means operated by each measuring member to act on the fluid to cause displacement thereof in accordance with the extent of movement of the measuring member, and means controlled by the fluid displacement to indicate the total work measurement eifected by the measuring members. c

2'; In a measuring machine, a support for a piece of work, a plurality of independently movable measuring members for engaging work on the support, each. measuring member being operative to measurea length dimension of the work during relative 'movement of the member and the piece of work, an enclosed body of fluid, and means operated bv'each measuring member to causedisplacenient of fluid in accordance with the extent of movement of the measuring member, the totaldisplacement caused by all of the measuring members indicating the measurement of the piece of work.

3. In a mea'suring machine, a support for a 7 piece of work, a plurality of independently movable measuring members for'engaging a piece of work on the support, each measuring member being driven by frictional contact with the moving work to measure a length dimension of the work during. relative movement of themember and the piece of work, a plurality of pistons, each arranged to be moved by an associated measuring member,

and an enclosed body of fluid arranged to be acted upon by'the pistons to 'totalize themove- V ments of the pistonsand to indicate by the V totaldisplacement of fluid the measurement of the pieceof work.

4. In an area measuringlmachine, ajfsu pportvfor a piece of work, a plurality of inde-.

pendently rotatable measuring members for engaging work onthe support, ea ch measuring member being rotated by frictional contact with the work to effect measurement of a lengthdimension of the work during relative movement of the member and the piece of work, a chambercontaining a fluid, means operated by each work measuring member for displacingfiuid in the chamber in accordance also the total work measurement effected by the measuring members. 7 Y

5. Ina measuring machine,a support for a piece of -work,a rotatable member for en gaging work on the support, the rotatable member being operated through friction with the work to measure a dimension thereof, a

chambercontaining fluid, means operated by theworkmeasuring member for displacing fluid in the chamber, a tube having a bore communicating with theichamber for receiving fluid displaced from the chamber, means associated with the tube forj mease uring the amount of displacement-indicated by the fluid, and" means for simultaneously returning the measuring member and the fluid displacingtions. it

means to their initialposi- 6., In an area measuring .machine, a support for a piece of work to be measured, a

plurality of movable measuring members for engaging .a pieceof work, each measuring member being operative to effect measurement of a length dimension of the work during relative movement of themember and the piece of work, a chamber containing a fluid,

means controlled by each measuring member to displace fluid in the chamber in proportion to the extent of movement of its associated measuring member, whereby the movements of the measuring members are totalized by the fluid, and means for indicating the total displacement of the fluid in the chamber, thereby indicating also the total avorkmeasurement effected bythe measur ing members. V

a 7. In an area measu p 7 port for a pieceof worktobe measured, a

plurality ofmeasuring members for engaging a p ece of work and movableto measure dis' tances on the surfacethereof, a chamber conring machine, a sup:

the extentof measuring movement of its associated measuring member, and means for visually indicat ng the total displacement of the fluid from the chamber, thereby. indicating also the total work measurement effected by the measuring members.

18.;In an area measuring ;niachine,.a;sup-j po'rtfora piece ofiwork to bem'eas'ured, a plurality of movable measuring members for engaging a piece of work to mea'sure distances i 20,77 l her, and meansicompnsmg an melleafeor for 6n the exit-face thefehf, a chamber eonteih ing; fiuidr, members connected respectively to; the s'everal me asurinsg membees' a;11d= con trolled individually thereby to displace fluid in the c'haimhefim accordance Wit'hthe extent of movements efthe measuring members, and

means; cohfirell'ed the fhtichfer indicating I phgmht-y of independently movable measurmg members fer engag ig a: p1ec'e of WOifk to measure chstance'e' 0111 the surface thereof, a

chamber containingl'a fluid, a; like nuni'ber of 7 members each of which is connected t0 one of the me'afsnr'ing members ainch is controlled lihezeby to displace fluid in 'th'eclmmher'ln accordance wifih' the exient of measuring movement of its a'ss'eciated measuring. merinmeesurihg an df iiichcat-ingr visually the total displacement of .flu'ld from the; chamber.-

10. In an area; meaeuring maehine; 2 Sup-- port for a; piece of, Work 60 be'measure'cl, a

1 plurality "of indepemlently movable me -er mg ineinhel s f or engagmg a P1986 oi Work to rmea'sv re chstmees onthe smface thereof,

a ehemher of members each @f whieh 1S conrfie "ed to' one of ehemeeseri -rrg members; anclie cent-felled thereby t6 displace fi'u'icl in the chem-her in acccfmh'mc'e I with theextefit of measuring movement of? is sr'ssociaed measuring mem-. her, hellew member within-which fined displeced 'from-th chtinher may rise in a eel men, and. i-ficlicatdr 'for measuring, and ix;-

dimming visually-the height of the fluid 5m thecolu A 11. In 22 measuring machine, suppert for apiece of work to be mea'sm'ecl; a, plurality of i11cl'epenclently'movable measuring members for eng'ain-g a,- piece of WOE'k, a chamber a fluid, means connected in each l-neashringj member and confirclled individuallq thereby i0 displace fluid in the ehamber in 'a ccercl'ance-With the extent of movement of its ztSSUGiiltd *iheasfirihg member, and a; iranspzvfent-mhe having a bore communicat- -ing With-theflu-i 'd in the chamber so asfte reeeiv'e fluid llisplaced from the chamber, an

indie-M02" hein'gpfovified' in 'e.' ssoe%2;ti-0i1 with rilie'l -nhe t 0- Inea eufe #he ahsplecemenfi oft-he frem the chamber. e 12. In an area measuring machine, a" sh}?- p'erfi for piece cf wd-rh to he meashr'ekl, a mew-e19 Wofk 'Ihefas'lirlfig member wrangled uri'ng' member ancl'the' fihi'ded isplecihg pis 2-011 tie move the lettel in accordance with the extent: of mox' ementef the measuring" memher, mews; for inrchcatiing'thedisp1ace-' men-5 ef t'he fl uid= from. the chamber; 7

' 13; Ine-measuringnmchine,-e support for V pieceo-E WOrk tOhe measured, a plurality of movable measuring memherefoi eh'gzfigirrg a piece- Of Work; a chamber corlite i fiiiig afluidg meztnecrtficfied= to each measuring member zmd; eceitrolledv inclividual ly thereby to" (lisplece fluid in the eha mbefin accordance with the extent of the movement of assoeitategl mees'urinrg me'mher, and a; tubehasvmg' a umrforn r hm-eeommmiceting With the fluid in 7 the" chamber as receive fluitdi displaced from the chamber enel' ma me it me 001- u'l nn', and art incl-leather me he provided with a scale, repfesenfiiniga; mhge of measurements in square feefi and fractions? thereoflend 10- ceted adjacent; to the cube to measure the pert for a ieceef work to'hemeasureti, movable" worksmea'sming members; for" engagement W'ifih- 5 piece of W6rk-armnge i fio eonfiimre in movemerf're wh'iletlme work 'ie "pess' over the support, li l effibers being operative: to efieefi measurement of th surface erea: 0f the piece of WO'TkE during relac'ive movement of theniembei-s and the piece ef work, a; fluid-canceling ehal'rhber,a; pluml'iy of istefleopefeted individually by the 1"!'2eaE1-i'1111 5-methlitg-ics for displacing fluid in fihe ehzhnber in accordance e amount of movement of the measuring mem bers, and means for indicating the total amoimt 0f displa ementof fiuidfio'ni the m mb r, thefehy indieatihg also the surface are'zi measuremeni e-fie'cteet by the measuring membere V .1

15. area'j measuring lmfe'hl'fiyii supv foo its arranged to be moved by the measuring wheel and connected to; the piston to control the movements of the latter directly in propor-. tion to the amount of movement of the measuring wheel, and means for indicating displacement of the fluid in the chamber. 7 7

17. In a measuring machine, a support for a piece of work to be measured, a movable .work measuring member for engagement with a piece of work to be measured, a fluidcontaining chamber, a piston movable in the chamber for displacing fluid therein, a rack bar, a pinion meshing with the rack bar, said pinion being controlled by the measuring member to move in accordance with the amount of movement of the measuring member, a connection between the rack bar and thepiston so that upon movement of the measuring member the piston is caused to displace fluid in the chamber, and means for 'indicatingthe displacement of fluid in the V chamber.

18. In a machine for measuring the areas of hides, skins, leather, and other sim lar pieces of work, a'supportv :tor a piece of work to be measured, measuring wheel adapted to engage work on the support, a fluid-containing chamber, a member for displacing fluid in the chamber, connections between themeasuring wheel and said member for operating the latter in accordance with thelamount of movement of the measuring wheel during movement of the work over the support, and means for indicating displacement of fluid inthe chamber, thereby indicating also the 7 total work measurement effected by the measuring members. 7 ,v p

19. In anarea measuring machine, a' support for a piece of work to bemeasured, a pluralityof independent measuring wheels for engaging a piece of work, a fluid-containing chamber, aplurality of members movable tor. displacing fluid in the chamber, each member being connected individually for operation by one of the measuring wheels, and means for indicating dlsplacement' of the fluid 1n the chamber, thereby indicating also the total work measurement effected by the measuring members.

20. In an area measuring machine, a support for a. piece of work' to be measured, a plurality of independent measuring wheels for engaging a piece of work, a fluid containing chamber, a plurality of members movable for displacing fluid in the chamber, a pinion connected to each measuring wheel, a plurality of rack bars each arranged to be erated by a pinion, a connection between each rack bar and one of the fluid displacing members, and meansfor indicating .the fluid displacement in the chamber.

21. In an area measuring machine, a support forv a piece of work to be measured, a plurality of independent. measuring wheels for engaging a piece of work, a fluid-containing chamber, a plurality of members movable for displacing fluid in the chamber, a pinion connected to each measuring wheel, a plurality of rack bars each arranged to be operated by apinion, a connection between each rack bar andone of the fluid displacing members, and a tube having a bore for communicat-ing with the fluid in the chamber so that the fluid may rise therein to indicate the amount of displacement offluidin the chamber. V a

22. In an area measuring machine,'a support for a piece of work tobe measured, a

plurality of rotatable measuring wheels for engaging a piece of work while the latter is passing over the support, means for suspending each wheel'out of contact with the work support, the wheels being adjustable to work of various thicknesses, a fluid-containing chamber,a pluralityot means arranged to be operated individually by rotation of the measuring wheels to displace fluid in the eration, and means tor'indicating the fluid displacement with respect to the chamber.

24. In an area measuring machine, a support for, a piece of work to be measured, a plurality of rotatable measuring wheels for engaging a piece of work while the latter is passing over the support, means forsuspendmg each wheel out of contact with the work support, a fluid-containing chamber, a plurality of members arranged to be operated individually by rotation of the measuring wheels to displace fluid in the chamber, each of said members comprising a piston having aslidable connection with; its associated measuring wheel constructed and arranged to cause effective connection between the piston and wheel to be maintained under all conditions, and means for indicating displace ment of fluid in the chamber.

25. In a machine for measuring the areas of hides, skins, leather and other similar pieces of work, a support for a piece of work 7 to be measured, a plurality of Wheels rotatably and independently mounted for engagement with a piece of work as the latter passes over the work support, a fluid-containing chamber, a plurality of pistons movable in the chamber to displace fluid therein, a rack bar associatedlwith each measuring wheel and 7 of hides, skins, leather andfother similar-p.

ing operation pieces of work, a support for a piece of work to be measured, a plurality of wheels rotatably and independently mounted for engagement with a piece of work as the latter passes over the Work support, a fluid-containing chamber, a plurality of pistons movable in the chamber to displace fluid therein,' each measuring wheel being arranged to control one of the pistons whereby each measuring wheel causes displacement of an amount of fluid proportional to its 'own movement,

members, said hydraulic means comprising also a transparent hollow tube for receiving fluid displaced by the pistons to indicate the total work measurement efiected by the measuring membersg In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

' JOHN M. BENJAMIN.

means for indicating displacementotthe f fluid in the chamber, and meansfor returning all of the pistons and measuring wheels si multaneously to initial position preliminarily to operation upon a succeeding piece ofwork. 27. In a machine for measuring the areas of hides, skins, leather and; other similar i pieces of work, a support for a piece ofwork to'be measured, a plurality of wheels rotata bly and independently mounted for engagement with a piece of work as the latterpa'sses over the work support, a fluid-containing chamber, aplurality of pistons movable in the chamber to displace fluid therein, a rack bar associated with each measuring wheel and movable thereby to control one of the pistons whereby each measuring wheel is caused to displace an amount of fluid proportional to its own movement, means for indicating displacement of fluid in the chamber, and a member operable to return all of the pistons to initial position preliminarily to a measurupon a succeeding piece of work. g 1 g 7 28. In an area measuring machine, a support for a piece of work to be measured, a plurality of movable measuring members for engaging the piece of work on the support andarrangedto be moved various distances I r by the work to measure a characteristic of the work in diiferentfportionsthereof, and hydraulic means for totalizing the movements ofthe measuring members and for indicating the total work measurementeffected by the measuring members,

29. In an area measuring machine, a support for a piece of work to be measured, a plurality'of movable measuring members for engagingthepiece of work on the support and 7 arranged to be moved various distances by, the work to measure a characteristic of the 1 work indifferent portions thereof, a plurality of pistons each of whichis connected to one of the measuring members, and hydraulic means comprising an enclosed body of fluid Y arranged to beacted on by the pistonsy'to totalize the movements, of the measuring 

